kh1958

Last night, Jason Moran's Fats Waller Dance Party at Jo Long Theater in San Antonio.

Herbie Mann, Sultry Serenade (Riverside mono)

I'm planning on going to the concert in San Antonio (my fingers typed Dallas) tomorrow.

Jason Moran in Houston and San Antonio this weekend: Jason Moran's Fats Waller Dance Party: Jason Moran, piano and keyboards; Lisa E. Harris, vocals; Leron Thomas, trumpet; Tarus Mateen, bass; Charles Haynes, drums Jason Moran pays tribute to Fats Waller, the influential stride pianist, composer and singer best known for his songs Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Honeysuckle Rose. Rather than interpreting Waller’s ebulliently swinging songbook directly, Moran breaks down melodies and riffs and then “the band builds on those fragments, in rhythms coming out of 1960s-and-beyond dance music: Motown, house, hip-hop” (The New York Times). This night will be a raucous party with an open dance floor and copious quantities of fun.

Kendrick Scott's recent leader release is on Concord.

KH, any other suggestions on the Fedora label output? I have to admit I wasn't aware of it, though I certainly know the sister labels. That Iceman Robinson sounds like a winner on the Amazon soundclips, I expect to nab that soon. I found a cut out of the Iceman Robinson in a used CD store and was shocked at how good it was. The best other blues CD on the label that I've heard is Jimmy Dawkins, West Side Guitar Hero. I've tried a few more on the label, but they have generally just been okay.

I appreciate a lot of what is on the three sister labels (Fedora is the blues label). Favorites would include the nine late life releases by David Newman, their four Melvin Sparks releases, their six Tom Harrell releases, and their five Frank Morgan releases. A recent blues discovery on Fedora is Iceman Robinson's only recording. http://www.bluesmusicnow.com/ice.html

Kenny Dorham, This is the Moment (Riverside mono), and Herbie Mann, Great Ideas of Western Man (Riverside mono).

If you want the set on LP, the Mosaic set is the way to go.

Theo Hill, I saw him last fall with Charles Tolliver, I liked him also.

Quincy Jones, Quintessence (Impulse, red and black label)

May 13, 2014: Nick Moss, Live Oak, Fort Worth May 14, 2014: Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz. Fort Worth May 15, 2014: Nicholas Payton, Fort Worth Public Library May 16, 2014: Jason Moran, Discovery Green, Houston May 17, 2014: Jason Moran's Fats Waller Dance Party, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio May 17, 2014: Rebirth Brass Band, Kessler Theater, Oak Cliff May 19, 2014: Peggy Stern Trio, Brass House, Austin May 21, 2014: Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz. Fort Worth May 22, 2014: Bill Frisell's Guitar in the Space Age, Dan's Silverleaf, Denton May 23-24, 2014: Bill Frisell, Continental Club, Austin May 26, 2014: Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Avant Garden, Houston May 27, 2014: Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Museum of Human Achievement, Austin May 28, 2014: Shelly Carrol, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth June 3, 2014: Peter Brotzman, William Parker, Hamid Drake, North Door, Austin June 16, 2014: Peggy Stern Trio, Brass House, Austin June 17, 2014: Charlie Hunter, Kessler Theater, Dallas June 18, 2014: Charlie Hunter, Vanguard Music Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma June 20-21, 2014: Charlie Hunter, Jazz in June, Norman, Oklahoma June 28, 2014: Smt Kala Ramnath (violin), Jones Auditorium, St. Edwards University, Austin July 5, 2014: Tex Allen, Cezanne, Houston July 11-12, 2014: Lucky Peterson, Clarence Muse Theater, Dallas July 19, 2014: Ud. Shahid Parvez Sitar and Gourisankar Karmakar Tabla, Jones Hall, University of St. Thomas, Houston August 28, 2014: Lila Downs, House of Blues, Houston August 30, 2014: Joe Louis Walker, Bedford Blues Festival August 30, 2014: Lila Downs, House of Blues, Dallas August 31, 2014: Lila Downs, San Antonio August 31, 2014: Robert Cray, Bedford Blues Festival September 6, 2014: Pandit Kumar Bose (tabla) and Pandit Ramesh Misra (Sarangi), Jones Auditorium, St. Edwards University September 12-13, 2014: Eddie Clearwater, Lurie Bell, Eric Gales, Sugar Blue, T-Bone Walker Blues Festival, Longview September 18, 2014: Shelley Carrol Quartet, Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Fort Worth Public Library September 20, 2104: Music Festival of India, Allen Public Library Auditorium September 20, 2014: Eddie Palmieri, Jazz'SALive, San Antonio October 4, 2014: Ramesh Mishrah, TBA, Houston October 10, 2014: Chick Corea, solo, Cullen Theater, Houston November 7, 2014: Lonnie Smith Trio, McCollough Theater, Austin December 10, 2014: Wynton Marsalis, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio February 7, 2015: Jason Moran, Cullen Theater, Houston February 22, 2015: Branford Marsalis, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio March 7, 2015: Kendrick Scott's Oracle, Cullen Theater, Houston April 11, 2015: Jeff Tain Watts, Bates Recital Hall, Austin April 18, 2015: Branford Marsalis, Cullen Theater, Houtson

Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five, Album #4 (Clef), and Jimmy Heath, The Quota (Riverside, black label stereo).

They probably didn't have them anyway. That was my experience with their closing sale.

Cannonball Adderley, African Waltz (Riverside mono), and Michael White, Spirit Dance (Impulse).

So pleased to hear Pharoah is still playing. During last year's European trip he was reported to be in poor health by Gheorghe in Vienna and I never got to see him in Manchester as he cut short the tour because of illness and returned to the U.S. Hope to get to see Pharoah again some day. I saw him several times in the early 1990s with that quartet with William Henderson. The Toronto appearance in 1990 at Bermuda Onion was incendiary ! Some good recent Sanders concerts available for viewing on YouTube. First song was Living Space, which was a thrill to hear live. I hadn't seen him since 1999 (Iridium); before that, the Village Vanguard (1992), and the Caravan of Dreams (1989).

A short trip to New Orleans to attend two days of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival--May 1 and 2. I haven't been since 1987, boy, that was dumb. The highlights of the first day were two, guitarist-vocalist Mauricio Tizumba, from Minas Gerais, Brazil, with his group Tambor Minerio, six lady drummer/vocalists. Tizumba's songs are fabulous, he's a fine singer and his group generates tremendous rhythmic excitement. After hearing an exciting set in the Blues Tent, subsequently in the afternoon in the Casa de Brazil pavilion, I heard the same result in a much smaller venue. Closing out the day in the Jazz Tent, the Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio played a transcendent set. With Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar and a New Orleans drummer whose name escapes me, the good Doctor was in sublime form once again. Day 2 began in the Blues Tent with a little African music, Seguenon Kone and L'Ivoire Spectacle, led by a djembe and balaphon player from the Ivory Coast, a rather spectacular set of mostly drumming. A little later, in the Jazz Tent, a somewhat unexpected highlight, Jason Marsalis and Chase Jordan's Woodshed Vibes. I wasn't expecting a group featuring dual vibes players to be so good, nor was I expecting Jason Marsalis to be such an excellent vibes player. A bit later in the Jazz Tent, Nicholas Payton's group was, surprisingly, more in the funk vein, with guitar, electric bass and drums, and with Payton sitting at electric keyboards and organ, occasionally picking up his trumpet to solo. This group actually sounded pretty good for about the first half of the set, but wore a bit thin, especially when Payton started singing, and played more keyboards than trumpet. Finally, closing out the day, the Pharoah Sanders Quintet in the Jazz Tent, including William Henderson on piano and Marlon Jordan on trumpet. Pharaoh is moving fairly slowly and looking frail, but his sound was so gorgeous, and his playing remained strong. It seemed as if he faded a bit by the end, cutting the scheduled 1 and 20 minute set short at about an hour. His solo in the closing, You've Got to Have Freedom, was short but effective--it was cool seeing Pharoah before such an adoring crowd. Meanwhile, behind us, at the next stage over, Christina Aguilera was simultaneously performing. It was a very enjoyable experience on the whole, with perfect weather and great food as well. I hope to go again next year.

Kenny Burrell, The Tender Gender (Cadet)

I saw him as a guest artist in a concert in New York three years or so ago; that's the only reason I know of him; he played pretty well; that is, I would go if he were playing in Dallas.

Norman Granz Jam Session #2 (Clef) [a nearly perfect copy found yesterday for $4], and Don Byrd and Gigi Gryce, Jazz Lab (Columbia six eyes).

This is Tex Allen the trumpet player, who played with Gil Evans (Svengali), not Tex Allen the singing cowboy actor. http://old.nyc10044.com/wire/2103/allen.html One leader date on Muse. http://www.amazon.com/Late-Night-Tex-Allen/dp/B000000GO1/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1398615480&sr=1-1&keywords=Tex+Allen

Norman Granz Jam Session #6 (Clef)

April 26, 2014: Branford Marsalis, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 27, 2014: Bombino, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 27, 2014: Tutu Jones, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival May 1, 2014: Dr. Lonnie Smith, Donald Harrison, Marlon Jordan, Stanton Moore, Bill Summers, Bernard Allison, Mauricio Tizumba, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 2, 2014: Pharaoh Sanders, Nicholas Payton, Walter Wolfman Washington, Mauricio Tizumba, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 3, 2014: Joe Louis Walker, Washington Irving Memorial Park, Bixby, Oklahoma May 3, 2014: Ellis Marsalis, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 3-4, 2014: Bombino, Terakaft, Austin Psych Festival May 4, 2014: Terrance Blanchard, Chick Corea, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 7, 2014: Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz. Fort Worth May 8, 2014: Nick Moss, Continental Club, Austin May 9, 2014: Tex Allen, Cezanne, Houston May 9, 2014: Nick Moss, Dosey Doe Music Cafe, Conroe May 10, 2014: PT TEJENDRA MAJUMDAR (SAROD), Northwest Hills Church, Austin May 13, 2014: Nick Moss, Live Oak, Fort Worth May 14, 2014: Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz. Fort Worth May 15, 2014: Nicholas Payton, Fort Worth Public Library May 16, 2014: Jason Moran, Discovery Green, Houston May 17, 2014: Jason Moran's Fats Waller Dance Party, Jo Long Theater, San Antonio May 17, 2014: Rebirth Brass Band, Kessler Theater, Oak Cliff May 19, 2014: Peggy Stern Trio, Brass House, Austin May 21, 2014: Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz. Fort Worth May 22, 2014: Bill Frisell's Guitar in the Space Age, Dan's Silverleaf, Denton May 23-24, 2014: Bill Frisell, Continental Club, Austin May 26, 2014: Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Avant Garden, Houston May 27, 2014: Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Museum of Human Achievement, Austin May 28, 2014: Shelly Carrol, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth June 3, 2014: Peter Brotzman, William Parker, Hamid Drake, North Door, Austin June 16, 2014: Peggy Stern Trio, Brass House, Austin June 17, 2014: Charlie Hunter, Kessler Theater, Dallas June 18, 2014: Charlie Hunter, Vanguard Music Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma June 20-21, 2014: Charlie Hunter, Jazz in June, Norman, Oklahoma June 28, 2014: Smt Kala Ramnath (violin), Jones Auditorium, St. Edwards University, Austin July 11-12, 2014: Lucky Peterson, Clarence Muse Theater, Dallas July 19, 2014: Ud. Shahid Parvez Sitar and Gourisankar Karmakar Tabla, Jones Hall, University of St. Thomas, Houston August 28, 2014: Lila Downs, House of Blues, Houston August 30, 2014: Joe Louis Walker, Bedford Blues Festival August 30, 2014: Lila Downs, House of Blues, Dallas August 31, 2014: Lila Downs, San Antonio August 31, 2014: Robert Cray, Bedford Blues Festival September 6, 2014: Pandit Kumar Bose (tabla) and Pandit Ramesh Misra (Sarangi), Jones Auditorium, St. Edwards University September 12-13, 2014: Eddie Clearwater, Lurie Bell, Eric Gales, T-Bone Walker Blues Festival, Longview September 18, 2014: Shelley Carrol Quartet, Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Fort Worth Public Library September 20, 2104: Music Festival of India, Allen Public Library Auditorium September 20, 2014: Eddie Palmieri, Jazz'SALive, San Antonio October 10, 2014: Chick Corea, solo, Cullen Theater, Houston November 7, 2014: Lonnie Smith Trio, McCollough Theater, Austin February 7, 2015: Jason Moran, Cullen Theater, Houston March 7, 2015: Kendrick Scott's Oracle, Cullen Theater, Houston April 11, 2015: Jeff Tain Watts, Bates Recital Hall, Austin April 18, 2015: Branford Marsalis, Cullen Theater, Houtson

I caught the group (with Rashaan Carter in place of Hilliard Greene) in Detroit last year and was impressed. I was at another stage for the first half of their set and found myself wishing that it had been possible to catch their entire set. It was a long concert last night, a full two hours, and free in a nice auditorium.

I wish I could be in Houston tonight, as the Afro Horn concert last night was tremendous. Led by Francisco Mora-Catlett (longtime Sun Ra Arkestra drummer and member of M'Boom), with a very strong group, including Sam Newsome on soprano saxophone, and Alex Harding on baritone saxophone.